Perception

Part 71

Kota POV:

The schedule this week looks pretty tame. A couple one or two hour jobs all around, completing the Ashley Waters deal, and getting Sang moved.

There's still enough risk from our watchers that we can't go back and forth to set up the house. I've only been there once, but as part of our training, we had to memorize multiple routes to the property that was meant to be our safe house, and meeting spot in the event of an emergency.

Gabe's been on a spending spree courtesy of Victor's black card, and having it all delivered straight to the house. This week he'll be spending every spare moment he has there to fix it up and get it ready for Sang. I've just finished sending out personalized coded texts when my phone buzzes again.

Mr. Blackbourne: Family meeting 3PM. Mandatory for all

Me: Sang?

Mr. Blackbourne: She is family

Something tells me I'm not going to want her there for this, but I can't directly disobey. I send a message to the entire group to relay the time of the mandatory family meeting, absently noting the code wording implies that it will be held at the Diner. That is an ideal time of day to hold a meeting there. It's not too busy that Uncle will have a problem lending us his tiny office. I check my supplies to ensure I have an electronics scrambler, then go downstairs to take care of my chores.

At quarter to nine, Sang and Victor show up smiling a lot and I'm pretty sure a blush or two bloomed during a couple of their secret smiles. Well, at least I know Vic won't have a problem falling for her. I don't know how he'll feel about the rest of us loving her though. Jess descends upon Sang as soon as she realizes she's here, and Vic and I head upstairs to my room to talk without small ears listening in.

"Mr. B asked that I closely monitor the accounts attached to the school this morning. During one of his weird brainstorms of his, he realized that it was likely someone would be tweaking the funds. I found he was right, and traced the IP address for him. I sent them to him and by his orders, I didn't do a further trace to see whose domains they were. I'm guessing that's why he's calling for a meeting," Vic tells me.

Well that isn't so bad, I think to myself. Sang'll want to know what new developments have happened at the school. We'll probably go over her move as well. The pressure building behind my eyes eases, and I rub the bridge of my nose to finish the job.

"So your parents are back from their European tour today. Did you want to spend the night tonight?" I ask Vic, not wanting him to be alone with jetlagged jack wagons. It may be ideal if he spent the night with someone else for the next couple nights for that matter. I make a mental note to run this by Mr. Blackbourne.

"Yeah, thanks. I hate being around them after they've been traveling. Well, I just really hate to be around them most of the time, but that's another story," he gives me a forced sickly smile, and I pat his back in commiseration. We've all stood with him during his showdowns with his parents--particularly his father. I just wish we would have known about them sooner.

"Hey, have you had breakfast? Maybe we can order an early pizza or something," I tell him thinking 11 isn't too early for lunch. We'll be at the diner at three, so we'll probably eat an early dinner there after the meeting.

Heading back to the kitchen, I'm happy to see the gigglefest has moved to the living room. The girls are on the couch with pillows and blankets bundled around them, sharing a bowl of popcorn with M&Ms mixed in. They're discussing how Sang has never seen Cinderella before, and Sang is telling Jess that the only movies she has seen lately are boy movies with zombies and scary stuff.

"I hate zombie movies! Let me guess; Nathan picked them, right?" Jess asks while laughing.

"Ah, so you know about his movie preference," Sang giggles. My sister giggles and nods with her eyebrows scrunched together in sympathy. The best sound in the world, those two giggling.

"Kota, will you be around for a couple hours? I have to go shopping. Do you girls need anything while I'm out?" Mom asks from the kitchen.

"I'll be here until later. You should be back before I have to go unless you take longer than expected," I say then move to sit next to Sang.

"Um, Mom? Can you get more things for that thing?" Jess asks while blushing. Mom looks confused for an entire minute before surprise covers her face.

"Really? Now? Are you sure?" I have no idea what is going on, but Mom sure looks excited.

"Yeah, Sang told me what to do but also said that you and I need to talk about the why...?" Jess mumbles.

"Oh, sweetie! Congratulations! I better get going to get you those things for that thing!" mom emphasizes while giggling, and dances her way out of the house. Sang and Jessica look at each other and bust out laughing while turning a bright shade of red.

"Anyone want to fill me in on what that was about?" Vic asks the question I wanted answered but had a feeling I didn't really want to know.

"Just girl stuff," Sang manages while her blush deepens even further. Huh? Oh. OHHHH! I find my ears heating in a blush too.

"So! What are we watching?" I ask desperately trying to change the subject. Vic seems to have understood too as he quickly leaves the room calling back that he's ordering a pizza.

"Um, we're going to watch Cinderella. Sang's never seen it before, and after I explained how it's about a girl that's treated like junk by her stepmother and stepsisters doing all of the housework, Sang had said it wasn't her type of story. But when I told her there's a happy ending with a prince, she's willing to give it a try," Jessica chirps excitedly. I see the parallels, and am glad Jess is helping Sang anticipate happily ever afters.

We settle in to watch the movie, Vic coming back a short time later, and we all allow ourselves to become absorbed in the storyline. Victor made us pause the movie so he could pay for the pizza. Mom comes back right as that movie ends, and we all go out to carry the bags inside. Mom and Jess go off to talk in her room, so Sang, Vic, and I all start to watch Finding Nemo. I haven't seen this movie since I went with Jessica and mom to see it in theaters, so I allow my mind to become submersed in the big blue with talking fish, bubble hoarding shrimp, and greedy seagulls while stuffing our faces with pizza.

When my alarm goes off at 2:30PM, we share looks that was both anticipatory and nervous. Sang seems to view it stoically, as though she knows it isn't going to be a fun meeting--they really haven't been since she was adopted, so I don't blame her. We spend some time cleaning up my living room so that my mom doesn't have to, then leave the house.